ETTAIAH. 
125 
opened to see the fault he has committed in so long 
refusing his allegiance to that great and powerful god- 
dess. Come, prostrate yourselves at her shrine ; offer 
to her your dutiful vows, and then return to your homes 
and revel in all luxury and delight. Away with the 
wild shackles of law, let each man do that which is 
right in his own eyes : the world is wide enough for 
all, and the pleasures it contains are many and varied 
as the pebbles on the sea shore. Let us then eat, drink, 
and he merry : your monarch shall set you the exam- 
ple — Lo ! I have chosen my queen, my bride, more 
lovely than the full-orbed moon ; and for myself — if 
your fond love praised my strength and stature before, 
behold how glorious am I now ! ’ — and the degraded 
chief in his frantic delusion raised up to its full height 
his withered and mis-shapen form, as if to challenge 
the admiration of the awe-stricken multitude, who hid 
their eyes from a sight so dreadful. Even at this mo- 
ment, a little snake, glittering in scarlet and gold, and 
scarce thicker than a man’s finger, wound itself up from 
a small crevice in the tesselated floor, and suddenly ex- 
panding to an enormous size, enfolded the hapless 
Buddunaut in its terrible coils, and instantly crushed 
him to death. 
“ The fierce reptile then flung forward its gigantic 
body, levelled the brazen gates, and darting like a 
scorching meteor through the magic groves entered the 
palace. 
“ While the citizens of Ettaiah stood paralyzed with 
m 3 
